Avenue Vine

For our inaugural auction, we want to introduce members of the trade and the media to the special character of Carneros, said Steve Sangiacomo, Chair, Carneros Wine Alliance and owner, Sangiacomo Vineyards. We have designed Pinot Plus to reflect both the special qualities of our wines and the special nature of those who live and work here. Each Auction Lot contains a component that allows the buyer to get to know the winemaker, winery or the grower on an informal basis at their homes, in their vineyards or as a part of their lifestyle. We want those who buy our wines to also get to know the people they are buying from and each lot reflects this special feature.

These special offerings range from a round of regulation-sized Croquet and Luncheon in the vineyard adjacent to the Adastra vineyards, a Day on the Bay Sailing on a winemakers sailboat, Margaritas by Mia, made and served personally by Mia Klein of Selene Wines on the terrace of the home of Larry and Betta Hyde, a vineyard tour and Italian style lunch at the original 1927 Sangiacomo Homestead cooked by the family, and a private luncheon hosted by Lee Hudson and Michael Havens at Hudson Vineyard high in the Carneros hills.

Among the winery-grower lots are: 2006 Lee Vineyards K-Tel; Cuvee Carneros Pinot Noir specially crafted by Saintsbury winemaker Jerome Chery from the grapes of Ira Lees vineyard; unique cool climate Carneros Merlot marking the long-time partnership between Sangiacomo Vineyards and Rombauer featuring a blend from hand-selected barrels of the 2006 vintage; a 15th Anniversary Special Label and first release of Selene06 Sauvignon Blanc, heralding the partnership between Carneros grower Larry Hyde, one of the nations most renowned vineyard owners and Mia Klein, one of the industrys most respected winemakers; and a special one-of-a-kind blend of Syrah and Grenache called Carnoso (fleshy) crafted by Havens Wine Cellars from Hudson Vineyard.

Pinot Plus also features unique barrel lots of the 06 Pinot Noir from premium and ultra-premium producers including Artesa Winery, Acacia Winery, Beaulieu Vineyards, Buena Vista Carneros, Ceja Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Domaine Carneros, Donum Estate, Etude Wines, MacRostie Winery, Madonna Estate, Patz & Hall and ZD Wines. Unique lots from Cuvaison, Mahoney Vineyards, Merryvale will also be featured at Pinot Plus.

One of the hallmarks of the Pinot Plus Auction is the participation of many premium and ultra-premium boutique and cult wines and wines from family-owned wineries. Unique lots will be offered by Adastra; Ancien, Generations of Sonoma; Fotinos; Kazmer & Blaise/Molnar Family Wines; Talisman; Toad Hall Cellars. Many of these labels represent producers from second and third-generation Carneros winemaking families.

The Carneros Wine Alliance has a longstanding commitment to the education and training of wine service professionals. Each harvest, the vintners and growers of Carneros host members of the new generation of wine and food professionals in their vineyards, wine cellars and homes under the organizations Cru Carneros program, which provides valuable hands-on training in all aspects of wine production beginning with the harvesting of grapes.

The Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation has long stood for excellence in education, training and scholarship for wine service professionals. Master Sommeliers attending the Auction include Randall Bertao, Brian Cronin, Fred Dame, Tim Gaiser, Reggie Narito, and Paul Roberts.

Pinot Plus is intended to provide enhanced support for the advancement of the careers of wine professionals through this mutual commitment.

Pinot Plus tickets are available to the trade only and may be purchased through the Carneros Wine Alliance website at www.carneros.com. Tickets for the Pinot Plus Tasting and Auction (includes Tasting from 3 - 5 pm followed by Auction from 5 - 7 pm) are $110 per person. Tickets for the Pinot Plus Tasting, Auction, Reception and Carneros BBQ (Reception and BBQ follow the Auction) are $185 per person. For more information, visit www.carneros.com or call (707) 253-2678.

A LISTING OF THE AUCTION LOTS IS POSTED ON WWW.CARNEROS.COM.

About Carneros Wine Alliance:
The Carneros Wine Alliance is an association of vintners and growers in the Los Carneros AVA. A short drive (45 minutes) from San Francisco, Carneros is a unique region encompassing a little bit of Napa and a little bit of Sonoma, spanning the southern portions of both counties. A rustic, wind-swept agricultural area, Carneros is one of the worlds premier winegrowing regions. A cool climate appellation, Carneros has long been known for its unassailable Chardonnays, elegant Pinot Noirs, and world class sparkling wines. In recent years, Los Carneros which means the Ram in Spanish has been recognized for the quality of its Syrah, Merlot and new varietals now emerging throughout the appellation.

The Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization considered to be the preeminent association focused on excellence and the development and exchange of information for wine service professionals across the United States. Major programs include mentoring of young sommeliers and scholarship programs for Advanced and Master Sommelier candidates.

Source: Press Release; "PINOT PLUS AUCTION ADDS NEW FEATURED LOTS NEW FEATURED LOTS FROM CARNEROS WINE ALLIANCE PREMIUM AND ULTRA-PREMIUM WINERIES AND GROWERS," Carneros Wine Alliance, CARNEROS, CA--March 8, 2007